Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:36
سُورَةُ القِيَامَةِ · Meccan · Verse 36 of 40
أَيَحْسَبُ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى
Translation
Does man think he will be left alone?
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
In Surah Al-Qiyamah, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala asks a profound question that pierces through our everyday assumptions: "أَيَحْسَبُ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى" (Ayaḥsabu al-Insānu an yutraka sudan)? "Does humankind imagine that they will be left without purpose?" This verse challenges the very core of our existence, specifically addressing those who deny the Hereafter and accountability.
The Challenging Question
The verse begins with a rhetorical question, "أَيَحْسَبُ" (Ayaḥsabu), which is not truly asking for information but rather expressing rebuke and wonder. As Mahmud Safi points out, the interrogative particle here conveys a sense of reproach, shaking the listener out of their heedlessness. It's as if Allah is saying, "Can they really hold such a foolish belief?" The term "الإنسان" (al-Insān), humankind, specifically refers to those individuals who deny resurrection and the purpose behind life.
What "Suda" Really Means
The heart of this verse lies in the word "سُدًى" (sudā). This powerful Arabic term means "neglected," "abandoned," or "left without purpose or accountability." It's a word used, for example, for camels left to roam freely without a shepherd or specific direction, as Ibn Ashur notes. Al-Razi further clarifies that to be left "suda" means "not to be commanded or forbidden, not to be held accountable in this world, nor judged for one's deeds in the Hereafter."
The wording here implies a deeper meaning: if one is left "suda," it means they are not given laws, guidance, or responsibilities, and therefore, there would be no consequences for their actions. Imam Shafi'i, as quoted by Ibn Ashur, stated that scholars of the Quran agree "suda" means "one who is not commanded or forbidden."
Why the Wording Matters
The choice of the passive voice "يُتْرَكَ" (yutraka), "is left," is significant. It implies a powerful and wise Actor who would *otherwise* be responsible for leaving humankind alone. As al-Jadwal explains, the passive voice is used for conciseness because the Doer, Allah, is clearly understood from the divine context.
Ibn Ashur highlights that the phrase "أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى" (to be left purposeless) is a *kinayah*, a metaphorical allusion, to the idea of recompense and judgment. To deny being left "suda" is to affirm accountability. It implies that a wise Creator would not fashion intricate beings like humans, bestow them with intellect and free will, and then simply abandon them without purpose or a final reckoning. This would contradict divine wisdom, for it would mean righteous and corrupt individuals would be treated alike, and evil would triumph unaddressed.
This verse echoes an earlier challenge in the same Surah (75:3), "Does humankind imagine that We will not gather their bones?" While that verse questions the physical possibility of resurrection, this verse questions the *purpose* and *wisdom* behind it. It powerfully uses simple, direct language to dismantle the idea of a life devoid of meaning and an afterlife devoid of justice.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Qur'anic Worlds
The powerful question posed in Surah 75, verse 36, "أَيَحْسَبُ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى" (Does humankind think that they will be left aimless?), comes as a direct challenge from Allah to those who deny the reality of resurrection and accountability. It addresses those who might believe their existence is without consequence, speaking with a tone of rebuke and profound wisdom. This verse was revealed in Makkah, a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was establishing the fundamental beliefs of Islam, including the certainty of the Hereafter, to an audience often steeped in the idea that life was merely a cycle of birth and death without deeper meaning or purpose.
What it Means to be "Left Aimless"
The Arabic word سُدًى (suda) is crucial here. Scholars like al-Baghawi, al-Razi, and Ibn Kathir explain it as being "hamala," meaning neglected, left without commands or prohibitions, or without accountability. Imagine, as al-Baghawi suggests, camels left to roam wherever they please without a shepherd to guide them. This imagery vividly portrays a state of utter aimlessness. Ibn Kathir clarifies that this aimlessness encompasses both this life, where we are not left without divine guidance and laws, and the afterlife, where we will not be left unresurrected and unjudged. The verse therefore challenges the notion that human life is merely a random occurrence, devoid of any higher purpose or ultimate reckoning.
A Question for Humanity
For the early Arabs, as Sayyid Qutb points out, life was often seen as "lahw wa la'ib" (play and amusement), without a clear cause, effect, or purpose. This verse arrived as a revolutionary concept, pushing them to consider a "namus fitrah" (law of nature) and a system of reward and punishment. Al-Razi emphasizes the profound philosophical implication: if Allah gave humans intellect, capabilities, and tools, yet imposed no duties or accountability, it would contradict His wisdom. It would imply a divine approval of all actions, good or bad, which is unfitting for the All-Wise. Thus, the very act of creation necessitates a purpose and a destination where deeds are accounted for. This question compels us to look beyond immediate gratification and ponder the grander design of our existence.
Your Purpose and Accountability
This verse transcends its original context, inviting every individual to reflect on their own life. If the Creator, in His infinite wisdom, brought us into being, it is inconceivable that we would simply be abandoned to our own devices without purpose, guidance, or eventual judgment. We are not "suda", merely wandering. Our existence is part of a deliberate and wise plan, which entails responsibilities and an ultimate return to our Maker for accountability. This realization transforms our perspective, urging us to live consciously, guided by divine wisdom, and ever mindful of our profound purpose.
Sources: al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ibn Kathir
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:36 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Qiyamah 75:36 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.